You check your alarms regularly and practice your emergency escape plan — but are you overlooking an essential component of home safety?
Having fire extinguishers — and knowing how to use them — is an important part to help ensure your home and family are prepared for the unexpected.
To practice whole home safety and help ensure your family is prepared in case of fire, follow these tips on fire extinguishers in the home:
Compare features
When it comes to fire extinguishers, there are a variety of types to choose from — from home and kitchen to commercial applications. When selecting a home fire extinguisher, two of the most important features are size and intended use. Select a home fire extinguisher that weighs 3 lbs. or less for easy handling. For home fire extinguishers, other features to look for include a metal valve and trigger, which offer the durability of a commercial grade extinguisher, as well as an easy-to-read color-coded gauge for accurate measurement. Remember, a fire extinguisher that has been discharged is no longer effective, so consider rechargeable extinguishers, which can be recharged by a certified professional if the unit is used.
Know your ABCs
While they may look similar, fire extinguishers have very specific ratings that indicate what kind of fire they are designed to extinguish. Extinguishers with a Class A rating are able to put out fires caused by wood, paper, trash and other common materials, while Class B rated extinguishers are intended for gasoline and flammable liquids. Class C rated extinguishers are meant for fires caused by electrical equipment, such as frayed cords. For trusted reliable protection, it’s best to select a multi-rated extinguisher, such as the First Alert Rechargeable Home Fire Extinguisher, which is capable of handling most types of household fires, including wood, paper, fabric, flammable liquid and electrical fires.
To learn more about fire safety, visit FirstAlert.com.